Iranians Protest Across Country, Defying a Crackdown — TEHRAN — Iranian security forces clamped down on Tehran on Monday after demonstrators across the country ignored calls for calm by President Hassan Rouhani in the most significant venting of pent-up economic and political frustrations in years.

Making China Great Again — As Donald Trump surrenders America's global commitments, Xi Jinping is learning to pick up the pieces. — When the Chinese action movie “Wolf Warrior II” arrived in theatres, in July, it looked like a standard shoot-'em-up, with a lonesome hero and frequent explosions.

Trump has a golf problem — On Christmas, Trump tweeted that he would be going “back to work” the next day. … Trump has since gone golfing for seven consecutive days, while the press pool ate pancakes at a local IHOP. — December 26 — “The motorcade pulled into Trump International Golf Club at around 9:05am.

Sources: Chris Matthews Runs An Abusive Work Environment — MSNBC Host Chris Matthews runs an at times openly derisive and brazenly sexist news operation that has led at least some staffers to describe themselves as victims of “battered wives syndrome,” according to three of his show's guests …